Ovid

by Katharina Volk

This book provides a unique and accessible introduction to the complete works of Ovid. Using a thematic approach, Volk lays out what we know about Ovid's life, presents the author's works within their poetic genres, and discusses central Ovidian themes.

Genres: Classics

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Katharina Volk is an associate professor of Classics, holding a Ph.D from Princeton University, and teaches at Columbia University.

Reviews

[Matt McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the fact the book was scholarly but not pretentious. I felt I learned something about Ovid and the Rome of August while gaining some insight into classical poetry. Volk is obviously a smart cookie but makes the effort to appreciate her readers will not have anywhere close to her level of training or expertise. Unfortunately, the more I read of Ovid, Horace and other Latin poets the less I seem to like the genre. Virgil is the exception, but maybe that shows my lack of sophistication. This is a relatedly quick book to read and certainly worth the time.

[sophie blyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-crafted exploration into Ovid as a poet, persona, narrator and purveyor of myth. Fascinating and useful for studying his works.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was lucidly written and did a great job balancing what it could offer to audience with varying levels of expertise. Volk introduced new readers of Ovid to all the big issues in Ovidian scholarship (I especially liked her take on Ovid and Augustus) and deepened the knowledge of "experts" like me, reminding us of what a rich author he is.

[Sage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does what it says on the tin, meaning that it is an "Introductory" work for undergraduates exploring Ovid for the first time. The Further Reading section is expansive, though the notes are sparse. I learned more from the Penguin Ovid (Peter Green tr) and his copious notes, tbh, but this is not a bad book for its intended use.